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UAE approves ‘right to die’ law

Abu Dhabi—Doctors in the United Arab Emirates would not have to fear getting subject to prosecution in the event of failing to resuscitate dying patients, thanks to a new law.

The new rules permit medical staff to refrain from performing CPR on dying patients who are suffering from incurable conditions. If all treatment has failed, or at least three doctors advise against resuscitation, a patient will be allowed to die naturally.

Nesreen Al Alfi, of Fatima College for Health Care Sciences in Abu Dhabi, and a member of the task force, said there were challenges in overcoming cultural beliefs and a legal system with no approved policies until now for “do not resuscitate” or “allow natural death”.

Under the new law, self-inflicted harm to the patient, refusal of treatment, failure to follow medical advice, or unexpected complications not caused by medical error will not hold the doctor liable to prosecution. A doctor will also not be liable.

Dr Sherbaz Bichu, chief operating officer at the Aster Hospital in Dubai, welcomed the change for giving doctors the security to act in the best interests of patients without the threat of prosecution if something went wrong.

“Now there is a process to it, so people can’t just go and complain,” Dr Bichu was quoted by The National. “My doctors are scared. ‘Should I really do this? Will it bite me back?’ This will give them more comfort to practise, and there will be professional evaluation. Until now, a patient could complain, the health authority would start an inquiry and your licence could be kept on hold. Now this fear factor is being diminished.”

The new law also proposes a tougher stance on health-insurance fraud and profit-chasing by doctors and hospitals. Sex-change surgery will also now be permitted under the new law, provided the person’s sex is unclear, or if a medical examination indicates that their physical features do not match their physiological, biological and genetic characteristics.

The law, Federal Decree No 4 of 2016 on Medical Responsibility, has been approved by the President, Sheikh Khalifa, and published in the Official Gazette.

 

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